Please read our official statement carefully for key dates, next steps and details.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
NEWM is shutting down operations
Dear NEWM Community,
We’re here today with a heavy heart in sharing some difficult news. After much consideration and an exhaustive evaluation of our path forward, we have made the incredibly tough decision to cease operations at NEWM.
This wasn’t a choice we took lightly. Since day one, our mission has been to build a fairer, more transparent future for music creators – one where artists could truly own and control their destiny. We poured our hearts, souls and countless hours into pioneering a new model for music ownership, fractionalizing rights, and building a community around the power of music assets.
We are so proud of what we accomplished together: the platform we built, the artists we empowered, and the vibrant community that continues to believe in our vision. We pushed boundaries, challenged the status quo and helped prove that a new paradigm for music ownership is possible.
However, despite our passion and dedication, the current market dynamics, along with the funding needed to scale a project of this ambition, have made it unsustainable to continue operations in our current form.
We understand this news is disappointing, and we share that disappointment deeply. We want to thank every single community member, artist, partner and supporter who joined us on this journey. Your belief fueled us, and we are eternally grateful for the trust you placed in NEWM.
What Comes Next: A Responsible and Transparent Wind-Down
Our commitment now shifts entirely to ensuring a responsible, transparent and orderly wind-down process. As an artist-first platform, we are prioritizing security and clarity for all artists currently using NEWM Studio for music distribution.
Please refer to the timeline below and key actions. This timeline is subject to change. If there are changes, notifications and announcements will be released.
We pledge to communicate openly throughout this process. We will continue to add more information to the detailed FAQ (located at the bottom of this page) that addresses common concerns regarding fractionalized assets, Stream Tokens and data privacy.
A Special Note to the Cardano Community: The Beat Goes On
When we started NEWM, we didn’t just want to build a music platform; we wanted to shake the very foundation of the music industry. Our goal was to prove that Cardano was the only ledger capable of handling the complex, fractionalized reality of Intellectual Property (IP).
Today, as we prepare to sunset the NEWM platform, we don’t see this as an end, but as a fragmentation. We are decentralizing our knowledge, our code, and our infrastructure, handing the keys back to the ecosystem that sustained us.
The NEWM Legacy Toolkit
We are proud to leave behind a suite of high-performance, open-source tools. These aren’t just ‘abandoned code’, they are battle-tested modules that any Cardano dev can fork, improve and deploy today.
Kogmios (Kotlin + Ogmios): The bridge for the JVM world. We built this to allow Android and backend developers to talk to Cardano nodes with ease. If you’re building in Kotlin or Java, this is your primary gateway.
Cardano dApp Wallet Connector: A streamlined, CIP-30-compliant library. It’s arguably one of the most stable ways to connect web apps to Cardano wallets like Eternl, Lace, and Vespr.
NEWM Mobile (KMM): Our crowning technical achievement. It utilizes Kotlin Multiplatform to share business logic across iOS and Android. If you want to see how to build a truly “mobile-first” blockchain experience, this is the blueprint.
The Music Rights Smart Contracts: Built using Aiken, these contracts handle fractionalized royalty distribution. They are a masterclass in eUTXO efficiency and can be adapted for any RWA (Real World Asset) project involving shared ownership.
Why This Matters for Builders
We chose Cardano because of its deterministic fees and native assets. Our code reflects that philosophy. By making these repositories public and permanent, we hope that the next generation of Cardano innovators will have the tools they need to hit the ground running.
Final Thoughts
To the Project Catalyst voters who took a chance on us, the artists who trusted us with their masters, and the SPOs who kept the network humming: Thank you. The music may stop moving through our servers, but the logic remains the same. We can’t wait to see what you build with the pieces we’ve left behind.
Onward,
The NEWM Team
Sunset timeline
key dates, actions & details
February 13, 2026 (Immediate) - Music Distribution Stops
Music distribution, fractionalization and marketplace listing features are no longer available. Artists NEED to look for a new distributor and de-list marketplace sales.
You can still access your NEWM Studio accounts to start the process of transferring your catalog to a new distributor and claiming any unclaimed royalties. If you have any active sales on the music rights marketplace, you will need to take them down ASAP.
We have a dedicated team to help you with this process, so please feel free to reach out via our support channel [email protected].
March 31, 2026 - Deadline to Take Down Music
Any music remaining on the platform after March 31 will be forcibly removed/un-distributed.
It’s very important that you take down/redistribute your music with another platform before this date.
April - June 2026 - Airdrop of Residual Streaming Royalties
We will airdrop artists and Stream Token holders any residual streaming royalties coming into the platform in stable coin during this time.
June 30, 2026 - Website & Communication Shutdown
The NEWM platform and all associated social media accounts will be archived and taken offline.
Sunset FAQs
for artists & stream token holders
How do I migrate my music?
Release Migration Action Plan
Moving your music from NEWM Studio
To ensure your music remains live on streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and that you do not lose your play counts or playlist placements, please follow these steps precisely.
Step 1: Document Your Release Metadata
Before we offboard the service, you MUST have a record of your release data. Log in to your NEWM Studio account and copy the following for every release:
- ISRC Codes: The unique 12-character ID for every individual track.
- Release Code: The unique ID for the entire album or single release.
- Original Audio Files: Ensure you have the high-quality WAV files you originally uploaded.
- Original Artwork: Ensure you have the high-resolution cover art.
- Exact Metadata: Record the exact spelling of titles, contributor names, and your original release date.
Step 2: Select a New Distribution Partner
Choose a music distribution platform that best fits your release strategy.
Step 3: Re-upload to Your New Platform
When uploading your catalog to your new distributor, do not generate new ISRCs or UPCs.
- During the upload process, look for an option that says “I already have an ISRC” or “Input existing UPC/EAN (Release Code).”
- Paste the codes you saved from NEWM Studio.
- Ensure the Song Title, Artist Name, and Audio File are identical to the original version.
Step 4: Verify the “Linkage”
Once your new distributor delivers the music, it will appear as a “duplicate” on streaming services for a few days.
- Check Spotify. If the play counts on the “new” upload match your “old” upload, the tracks have successfully linked.
- Note: It may take 48–72 hours for the systems to recognize the codes and merge the play counts.
Step 5: Request Takedown from NEWM
Only after you have confirmed that your music is live and linked via your new distributor should you request a takedown from NEWM. This prevents any “dead air” where your music is unavailable.
Will I lose my stream counts?
No, as long as you use the exact same ISRC code for each track when you re-upload. The ISRC is the digital fingerprint that tracks your plays across the entire industry.
Will my music be removed from playlists?
If you follow the “Upload then Takedown” strategy, your music will stay in playlists. The “linked” version will replace the old one seamlessly.
Will my music be removed from streaming platforms?
Yes – unless you migrate your catalog to a new distributor before March 31, 2026. If you do not re-upload your music through another distributor and complete the transition properly, your music will be taken down from streaming services during the final batch takedown process.
Why do I need my Release Code (UPC/EAN)?
The Release Code identifies the product as a whole. Providing your existing Release Code to your new distributor helps streaming services understand that this is the same product previously distributed by NEWM, rather than a “re-release.”
Where can I find my ISRC and UPC codes?
You can find your ISRC and UPC/EAN codes inside your NEWM Studio dashboard under your release details. We recommend downloading and saving this information before March 31, 2026.
What happens to my Stream Tokens?
Your Stream Tokens remain securely in your Cardano wallet. However, because the streaming royalty bridge is moving, the automated royalty distribution via NEWM Studio will cease. We will provide a separate update regarding the future of on-chain royalty tracking for existing holders.
How long do I have to move my music?
We require you to complete your migration by MARCH 31, 2026. After this date, we will begin the final batch takedown process, and you will lose access to your NEWM Studio dashboard.
What happens if I do nothing?
If no action is taken before March 31, 2026:
- Your music will be removed from streaming services.
- You will lose access to NEWM Studio.
Future royalties will not be processed through the platform.We strongly encourage all artists to begin migration as soon as possible.
Does NEWM recommend another distributor?
We conducted a thorough search for a potential distribution partner that aligned with NEWM’s core principles – including artists retaining 100% of their royalties, no hidden fees, and automated royalty payouts. Unfortunately, we were unable to identify a distributor that fully matches this model. For that reason, we cannot in good faith recommend a specific alternative.
We encourage artists to carefully evaluate distributors based on their individual needs, including fee structures, payout schedules, rights ownership terms, and long-term flexibility.
What happens to The RecordStore music collectibles?
RecordStore music collectibles will remain in holders’ wallets as on-chain assets. You can still listen to your collectibles in the NEWM Music App until the app goes offline. After that, there are a few other ways to listen to your collectibles like GERO wallet’s media player.
Who can I contact for support during this transition?
You may contact [email protected] during the sunset period. We will release an announcement when support channels go offline.
